ham sống
Definition
- Adjective:
- Cowardly, afraid of death: "ham sống" describes a person who is excessively afraid of dying, clinging to life in a cowardly or contemptible manner.
- Craven, clinging to life: It characterizes someone whose fear of death leads to a lack of courage or principle.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Hắn ta là một kẻ ham sống sợ chết, không dám đương đầu với thử thách. (He is a cowardly person, afraid of death, who dares not face challenges.)
- Đừng tỏ ra ham sống trước kẻ thù. (Don't show that you are craven in front of the enemy.)
- Thái độ ham sống của tên phản bội khiến mọi người khinh bỉ. (The traitor's cowardly clinging to life made everyone despise him.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is almost always used pejoratively to criticize a lack of bravery or willingness to sacrifice for a cause, principle, or others. It implies a selfish attachment to life.
- It is frequently used in the fixed, four-syllable idiom "ham sống sợ chết" (literally: clinging to life, fearing death), which intensifies the meaning of cowardice.
Variants and Related Words
- Nhát gan (adj): Timid, easily frightened. (Less severe, focuses more on general fearfulness than specifically on fear of death).
- Hèn nhát (adj): Cowardly, base. (A general synonym for cowardice).
- Sợ chết (verb phrase): To be afraid of dying. (A component of the common idiom).
Synonyms
- Cowardly: Lacking courage.
- Craven: Contemptibly lacking in courage.
- Faint-hearted: Lacking conviction or courage.
Related Idioms
- Ham sống sợ chết: This is the most common and complete form. It is a set idiom meaning "cravenly clinging to life and fearing death," used to describe utter cowardice.
- Kẻ ham sống sợ chết không bao giờ trở thành anh hùng. (A person who cravenly clings to life will never become a hero.)